Bracelet link



March 20, 1928.

C. A. HART I BRACELET LINK Filed May 2, 1925 Patented Mar. 29, 1928.

GHARLESA. ,HART, F 'WLALLA W' ALLA, WASH 'INGTON.

nnecnnnr LINK.

Application filed. May 2,

This inventionrelatesto bracelet links and has as one of its obj ects to provide a bracelet link that is expansible.

Another object of the invention is to provide a'brace'let link having expansible links that may be constructed'by stamping and hence are relatively cheap to manufacture, and that is simple to assemble.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bracelet link that is adaptable to the use of a solid link in its makeup, and providing a means for locking the solidjlink in abody portion in amanner to stand a'breaking strain equal to the tensile. strength of the material of which it is composed.

.A further object of the invention is to provide a bracelet link having clasps, and constructing the clasps on the same general principle asthe links, and providing a form of clasp that is peculiarly adaptable to a horizontally positioned "link member, and that is simple to assemble with said link.

A. further object of the invention is to provide a bracelet link, each link being iden- 2 tical and a separable member, thus eliminat ingxthe necessity of an odd separable link in the construction of a bracelet, withits attendant labor of construction, assembling, dies, etc. 7 4

With these and other objects in view reference is now had to the accompanying drawings in which p y i Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the bracelet links assembled together to form a bracelet; Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of several links of a bracelet showing details of construction; I

Fig.3 is a side elevation of the clasp; Fig.,l is a plan view of the clasp; I

5 is a perspective view of the body portion of a link, upside down;

Fig. 6 is a similar view of the open link; Fig. 7 is a similar view of the solid link; Fig. 8" is a'perspective View ofthe latch member of the clasp; and V v Fig. 9 is a sectional elevation of a portion of a link showing the lockingmeans in the unlocked position. I

Having reference to: the drawings like numerals refer to like parts throughout'the several views and the numeral 1 refers to a bracelet'comprising links 2, a central link 3' consisting of'a stock link of solid construction, and clasps lforattachment purposes to a Watch 5 or other article.

Let it here be understood that While this 1925. Serial No. 27,360.

invention covers the constituent parts of a bracelet, II donot wish to be limited to its use for bracelet purposes only, but 'limit'inyself only to such purpose to which theinvention is applicable, Within the scope of'my claims.

Bracelets of'this class are assembled generally from a central point in the circumfer ence of the bracelet to provide expansionin both directions, and this bracelet .link fol lows the general ever, it has been necessary heretofore to con struct; a central linkthat is separable "to enable'th'e bracelet to be assembled in the two directions, i i the other links in appearance difters in its constructional details to an extent requiring rule in this respect, how-R 7o or that whilecorresponding to other dies and extra labor in its manufacture;

' In this bracelet link it isobvious that't he centrallink 3 may be of solid construction and may be of. general stock "size and form orth'eparticular design shown in the dI'aW.-' ings may besubstituted by other formsor designs, ifdeemed necessary, or desirable, without aifecting the assembling or. operation of the links herein described.

The adj acent and subsequent links 2 of the" w braceletcomprise a body portion 6, an open link? and described; p

The body portion consists of a material that may preferably beformed in a generally rectangular shape, but while this form may vary from the rectangle, fas'for in--' stance thebo'dy may e oval or the' like, the essential feature isa laterally formed body portion provided with a longitudinally disposed s'lot of keyway 9 providedby formingthe'bodywith an incomplete perimeter 10 to maintain its edges 11 at a slight distance apart.

The body portion is further provided with indentures'12 formed in the perimeter ad-: j'acent to said keyway for the purposeof providing a locking means that will be presently explained.

Theopen'link is of a similarly described design but is formed so that when 'a ssembledin the body portion 6 its slotl3 is. at right angles to the slot'9 of the body portion.

The edges 14 and 15'respectively forming the sides ofthe slot are upturned to provide a'hook 16 as shown, or the hook may be a closed link 8, and will now be I bent back upon itself if deemed expedient,

in either case the hook is formed to register with or be engaged by the indentures 12 of the body portion to complete the locking means. By this means the open link is securely locked in the body portion, and with the body portion spanning the slot 13 of the open link and forming a closure therefor the openlink is formed into a rigid continuous the first hook to enter will pass by the first the open link in the body The slot 9 provides for accessibility to the.

indenture owing to its taper being rearward, as shown, and both ingly snap into place and thus securely lock portion.

3 locking means and the open link may be removed by insertinga suitable tool, shown dotted in Fig. 9, through the slot 9 and pressing the hooks 16 out of the indentures 12, then with the tool inthe slot of theopen link forcing the link in a longitudinal direction out of the body portion 6.

The solid link 8 consist-s of a eontinuous link and is preferably provided on the inner side of one end 23 with a stud 19 to which will be suitably secured a spring 20.

The solid link is slidably and yieldingly engaged bythe open assembled by inserting the end 23 of the solid link under the edge 15 of the open link and then forcing the free end of the spring under the opposite edge 14;. c

.After assembling these two parts the whole link is assembled by inserting. the open link into the body portion, the open link now carrying the solid link, when the open link forms means to lock the solid link movably, and reinovably in the body portion.

7 As a matter of detail the open link is of a width to afford a space between its outer edge 21 and the inner wall 22 of the body portion that will receive the side of the solid link and permit of a free longitudinal movement therein, and the height of the open link will likewise be such as to provide for a free movement of the end 23 of the solid link I in the open link.

The spring is interposed between the opposite ends of the two links and is preferably tapered with the small end adapted to engage the stud 19 and with its free end fiattened so that this end will be maintained in 1 its proper position in the end of the open link. This design also affords sufiicient hooks will finally yieldhaving a portion link, the two being width to the spring so that the spring, which is obviously delicate, will not double up or move out of shape as it is compressed during the expansion of the links.

Now in assembling the bracelet the central link 3 is passed over one edge of one of the open links, the end 23 of the solid link is then inserted under this same end and moved against the central link, and the free end of the spring will then be inserted under the opposite end of the open link. The'open link is now inserted in the body portion as above explained which completes the assembling operation of the first link. The edge of the next succeeding open link now engages the outer end of the solid link, a second solid link is inserted in this open link. and these assembled in the related body portion, as before. v

The operation is now continued until the bracelet proper is completely assembled, from both sides of thecentral link, and

clasps 4 are then added each end link to' complete the bracelet.

The clasps consist of. a body portion 24 formed'to correspond to the links of the bracelet, andmay be formed with an incom plete perimeter, or not as desired, and has a. part 25 extended to; be bent into a hook 26, the hook in turn being engageable with the ring 27 of the watch 5, or the article to which it is desired to attach it.

The clasp is now provided with a yielding: latch 28 comprising a generally U shapedpiece, having one of its end 29 longer than the other, with the bend 30 shaped to form a shoulder 31, and with its other end 31" bent over toform a hook 32. Assembling is carried on in a similar manner as that of the link by inserting theclasp and raising the hook to avoid the end'of the body portion, and, when assembled, the long end 29 rests yielding against the underside of the hook 26 ofthe body portion and forms,

with that member a secure clasp. The hook 32 of the other end now enters a, slot (not shown)'in the extended portion 25 thus securing the latch inthe body, where it is maintained in proper register with the body by the shoulder 31 which now rests against the end of the body portion. The shoulder also provides for a space 33 between the end of the U and the end of the body to receive and to provide for ample freedoinjof movement of the solid link that is enga ed by the latch before the clasp is'assemblet It will now be noted thatthefsolidflinks bent member, that would have to conform to alink laying onedge. i

It will also be noted that all the parts are so formed that the strength of the bracelet will equal the tensile strength of the material of which it is composed, and that the only part of the bracelet that is not secured at both ends is the hook 26 and that this hook is strengthened by enlarging its width, as shown in Fig. 4, and thus will be prevented from straightening out under a severe strain.

In use the bracelet is clasped to thearticle to be held, and by the expansion of the many links, multiplying the relatively large expansion of each link, the bracelet is permitted to be placed on either a large or small wrist, and be retained there by the tension of the spring.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. In a bracelet link, a laterally formed body portion provided with a longitudinally disposed keyway, laterally formed indentures provided in said body portion, an open link mountable in said body portion, and engageable with said indentures to form with said body portion a rigid continuous link, and a yieldingly operable closed link slidably secured in said continuous link, and adapted to engage a succeedinglink.

2. In a bracelet link, a laterally formed body portion provided with a longitudinally disposed keyway, spaced indentures formed in said body portion adjacent to said keyway, an open link mountable in said body portion, the ends thereof being adapted to engage said indentures to form with said body portion a rigid continuous link, releasable through said keyway, and a yieldingly operable closed link slidably secured in said continuous link, and adapted to engage the continuous link of a succeeding.

bracelet link, for securement therein byits related body portion. 7

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

' CHARLES A. HART. 

